Tail-gate-mounting means



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,923

-r. R. COOK TAIL GATE MOUNTING [BANS Filed Nov. 25. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a H l II III ii WE? llll Feb. 5, 1929.

T. R. COOK TAIL GATE MOUNTING "BANS Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wane/so Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITE STATS PAT=T QFFICE.

THOMAS E. COOK, OF SCRANTON. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HUDSON COAL COMPANY, OF SGRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAIL-GATE-MOUN TING MEANS.

Application filed November 25, 1927.

A form of mine car door (hereinafter termed a. tail gate) which has been quite extensively used, is hinged at its upper edge between the side walls of the car body and is normally held closed by co-operable chains and latches. Upon release of the latches and inclination of the car body, the door swings open to discharge the coal and upon righting of said body swings again to a closed position.

It has been found however, that this tail gate is not satisfactory on self-dumping Cages, as it lashes back and forth on the hinge or pivotal mounting, constituting a potential hazard, as it is, after dumping of the coal, liable to swing excessively into the car and then swing out far enough to catch upon some portion of the shaft. Moreover, when cars equipped with gates of the type set forth, are rather highly topped with coal, a great deal of this coal runs over the gate when the latter is open, and hence so drops onto the chute or the like into which the car is being dumped, as to cause severe danger of breaking the coal so falling.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a new and improved tail gate mounting in which the difficulties above pointed out, are effectively overcome.

Vith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a mine car improved in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the tail gate and its mounting means.

In the drawing above briefly described, the preferred form of construction has been shown. and while this construction will be herein specifically explained. it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations maybe ode.

The numeral 4 denotes a car body and 5 refers to the side walls thereof, the upper edges of these walls being provided with angle' metal protectors 6. 7 denotes the tail grate which is received between ends of the side walls 5, 8 has reference to the usual chains which are instrumental in holding the g te 7 closed, and 9 designates the latches which r3o-operate with said chains.

extend irig along the upper edge of the gate Serial No. 235,634.

7, is a straight shaft 11 which is of rectangular cross-section the ends 12 of said shaft being extended beyond the ends of the gate and constituting rigid projections to extendtransverscly across the upper edges of the side walis 5. A plurality of arched bars 13-43 straedle the shaft 11 and the gate 7 and are so shaped as to tightly engage said shaft and hold it against rotation with respect to said gate, two of these bars being preferably longer than the intermediate bar and serving as part of the mounting means for the latches 9. All of the bars 1313 are secured to the gate by bolts or other desired fasteners 14. The outermost bars 13 abut inwardly facing shoulders 15 on the shaft 11, thereby holding this shaft and the gate 7 against relative sliding.

Integral with the projecting ends 12 of the shaft 11, are two arms 16 which extend upwardly and inwardly away from the gate 7, these arms being preferably of the angular form herein shown. The upperends of these arms are received between additional, inner and outer arms 1718 which rise rigidly from the sides 5 of the car bod-y 4, said arms 1718 being preferably provided by the upper ends of metal bars secured 'by belts or the like 19 to said sides 5. These upper ends of the arms 16 are formed with pivot-receiv ing openings 20, through which bolts or the like 21 pass, said bolts also extending through the arms 1718, to pivotally connect said arms 16 with said arms 1718.

By the construction above described, the pivotal axis of the gate 7 (the bolts 21) is located much higher than usual and is in wardly offset from the gate 7. This permits higher swinging of the gate upon dumping of the car and consequently insures that very little if any coal shall slide over said gate, even if the car he topped unusually high. Then too. upon righting of the car, the offset relation of the gate 7 with its pivotal axis. insures that the gate shall properly close and shall tend to remain in closed position without excessive outward swinging. Furthermore, upon closing of the gate. the projecting ends 12 of the shaft 11 strike the angle meta l protectors 6 along the upper edges of the side walls 5 and hence serve as stops to prevent excessive inward swinging of the gate. As such inward swinging is thus prevented, the gate can gather "no momentum to again swing outwardt g tn an excessive, amount. with danger of catching on any part of the shaft, or adjacent objects.

he form of construction selected for ill ustration has proven to be very advantageous and hence is preferably followed. I'Iowever, attention again invited to the fact that within the scope of the invention as claimed, "ariations may he made.

I claim:-

1. hlounting means for a tail gate of a car or analogous body; comprising two projections rigid with the upper corners of the gate and projecting laterally in opposite directions therefrom to extend across the upper edges of the side walls of said body. arms rigid with said projections, said arms extending); upwardly and inwardly away from. the gate, additional upstanding arms rising rigidly from said side walis, and means pivoting the first named arms to said additional arms.

2. Mounting means for a tail gate of a car or analogous body; com nising a shatt 4 ecured to and extending along the upper edge portion of the gate, tl e ends o i said shaft projecting beyond the ends ot the gate to extend across the upper ed es of the side walls of the body, arms rigid with said of said shaft and extending upwardly and ir. wardly away from the gate, additional upstanding arms rising rigidly from said side Walls, and means pivoting the first named arms to said additional arms.

3. Mounting means for a tail gate of a car or analogous body, comprising a shaft of rectangular cross-section extending along the upper edge of said gate with its ends projeeting beyond the gate ends to extend across the upper edges of the side walls of the body, arched metal bars straddling the shaft and gate and secured to the latter to secure shaft and gate together, arms rigid with said ends of said shaft and extending upwardly and inwardly away from the gate, additional upstanding arms rising rigidly l'rom said side walls, and means pivoting the first named arms to said additional arms.

4. A structure as specified in claim said shaft having shoulders abutting said bars to hold gate and shaft aga nst relative :.liding.

5. In a tail gate mounting means, a shaft adapted to be secured along the upper edge portion of the gate and to project beyond the ends of said gate, the ends of said haft. ha ving rigid arms extending up 'ardly ant laterally from said shaft, said arms having aiined pivot portions.

(3. In a tail gate mounting means, a shaft to extend along the upper edge of the gate and project beyond the ends of said gate, the ends of said shaft having arms extending upwardly and laterally for pivotal connection with supports, and arched bars st addling and holding said shaft, said bars being adapted to straddle and to be secured to the gate.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6; said shaft having shoulders to abut said bars to prevent relative sliding of said shaft and gate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed by signature.

THOMAS H. COOK. 

